Operation Baggataway: How to Donate Sticks

Operation Baggataway was started two years ago by members of the North Shore Lacrosse Club to address the recreational needs of our soldiers abroad. Club President Kevin Kaffl read an article in Lacrosse Magazine about a group of soldiers in Iraq who were looking to start a lacrosse team for recreational purposes.

Kevin reached out to the Embassy and helped start the program of supplying new and used adult lacrosse equipment to the soldiers abroad. To date, the NSLC has helped outfit four teams in Iraq and Afghanistan. The club has received donations from many universities and colleges, as well as local high schools and families. The mission of Operation Baggataway is to supply any foreign U.S. base that requests equipment for soldier recreation. There have been many volunteers and donators along the way.

One pictured here is North Shore seventh grader Brendan Boyle. In appreciation of the soldiers, Brendan has donated his time and supplies to string over 80 sticks that were donated by SUNY Maritime, American International University, Colgate, Brown, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, VMI, Army, North Carolina, Ohio State, Harvard, Virginia, Lax World, Lacrosse Unlimited and Valley Sport and Trophy.

Operation Baggataway is a not-for-profit program that not only relies on generous donations of equipment but also the personal touch of time and heart that has been given by people like Brendan Boyle.